US Stock Futures: HOT STOCKS TO WATCH

Among the companies whose shares are expected to actively trade in Thursday's session are Mosaic Co. (MOS), Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) and Chesapeake Energy Corp. (CHK).

Mosaic plans to reduce its production of phosphates by as much as 250,000 tons over the next three months on weakened demand. Shares of the fertilizer producer fell 2.8% to $48.88 premarket.

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. recently hired the lobbying firm headed by former White House official Kenneth Duberstein as part of its exploration of a possible bid for all of Yahoo, reported The Wall Street Journal, citing a person familiar with the matter. Shares of Yahoo climbed 1.5% to $16.02 premarket.

Chesapeake Midstream Partners LP (CHKM) agreed to buy midstream assets in the Marcellus Shale ultimately owned by Chesapeake Energy for $865 million. Chesapeake Energy shares added 1% to $22.88 premarket.

 
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Payment-systems provider ACI Worldwide Inc. (ACIW) again extended its tender offer for e-commerce company S1 Corp. (SONE), though the deal lost significant shareholder support and the companies are continuing to assist the Department of Justice in its review of the proposed deal.

Alexion Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ALXN) agreed to acquire privately held Enobia Pharma Corp. in a deal valued at up to $1.08 billion, expanding Alexion's presence in the treatment of ultra-rare and life-threatening diseases.

China Sky One Medical Inc. (CSKI) said Chief Financial Officer Hongyu Pan has left the company for personal reasons, and a search for his successor has begun.

Exar Corp. (EXAR) cut its revenue and non-GAAP gross margin guidance for its fiscal third quarter due to weaker economic conditions in Asia and Europe and continued inventory corrections.

StellarOne Corp. (STEL) said it repaid a remaining $22.5 million for preferred shares it issued to the government under the U.S. Treasury's Troubled Asset Relief Program during the financial crisis in late 2008.

-Edited by Ian Thomson and Corrie Driebusch; write to [e-mail] and [e-mail]